Running for just 3 more nights at the National Theatre, ‘Landscape with Weapon’ is the new play by Joe Penhall (writer of Blue/Orange). Joe also adapted Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love for the big screen, directed by Roger Mitchell. Roger has re-teamed with Joe to direct Landscape, and does so spectacularly.
The show focuses on Ned (Tom Hollander, Pirates 2 & 3 and Harry Potter premier balconies), a lonely genius who has invented a revolutionary new weapons system for the military. His brother Dan (Julian Rhind-Tutt, henceforth known as Green Wing Guy) is horrified when he discovers what Ned truly does for a living and tries to persuade him to quit, whilst his colleague Ross (Pippa Haywood, Green Wing Gal) is busy trying to make the best deal. Ultimately Ned makes his choice, and SIS officer Brooks (Jason Watkins, not in Green Wing but apparently pops up in Tomorrow Never Dies) is called in to change his mind.
Performed in traverse (audience on 2 sides with the stage a thin strip in the middle), the staging emphasised the distance between the characters and the dual sides of every conversation and argument. There’s also a lovely symbolic UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) in the large room lampshade, hovering over all the action.
The direction was superb, making excellent use of the space to show us the ever-changing relationships between the characters, and even includes a stunning table brawl / food fight. The script was wonderful: informative, funny, chilling and managed to give equal time to every viewpoint. The acting…
Tom (I’m not in the film but look everyone I’m on my mobile) was magnificent, which was a revelation as to date everything I’ve seen him in has seen him playing the same, slimy, character. Of the 6 scenes in the play, he’s only off stage for one of them, and his presence is sorely missed. Funny, sympathetic, arrogant, confused, lonely, he absolutely inhabited the role. Bizarrely, he also seemed to be channelling Griff Rhys Jones. A flawless performance.
Jason (I’m not in Green Wing) Watkins was great with the limited stage time he had, switching between funny and chilling with masterful ease; but unfortunately he never got to share a scene with just Tom. Instead, he was always stuck with one of the Green Wing gang. Ah yes, the Green Wing gang (sounds like they should be selling vegetables). They were both trying their best, and it’s not like they were bad, but both of them totally failed to convince me of their characters. It was like they were both putting on a persona, rather than becoming it: forced verses natural. Both were funny and enjoyable, but did prevent a very good show from becoming excellent.
Definitely worth watching, but would be interesting to see what a different cast made of the material.
